The Ritual: Al Pacino leads chilling exorcism drama based on America’s most documented case
Al Pacino stars as Father Theophilus Riesinger in The Ritual, a 2025 horror drama rooted in the 1928 Earling, Iowa exorcism of Emma Schmidt. The film leans on historical records, contrasts two priests’ approaches, and avoids cheap shocks for psychological tension. With a June 6 Paris release, early reactions highlight its authenticity, restrained style, and debate over faith, trauma, and the supernatural.